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Nance M, Stetsiv K, McNamara IA, Carpenter RW, Hepp J. Acute, Chronic, and Everyday Physical Pain in Borderline Personality Disorder. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2024; 26:240-248. [PMID: 38598062 PMCID: PMC11082044 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01498-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Physical pain is an underrecognized area of dysregulation among those with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Disturbances are observed within the experience of acute, chronic, and everyday physical pain experiences for people with BPD. We aimed to synthesize research findings on multiple areas of dysregulation in BPD in order to highlight potential mechanisms underlying the association between BPD and physical pain dysregulation. RECENT FINDINGS Potential biological mechanisms include altered neural responses to painful stimuli within cognitive-affective regions of the brain, as well as potentially low basal levels of endogenous opioids. Emotion dysregulation broadly mediates dysregulation of physical pain. Certain psychological experiences may attenuate acute physical pain, such as dissociation, whereas others, such as negative affect, may exacerbate it. Social challenges between patients with BPD and healthcare providers may hinder appropriate treatment of chronic pain. Dysregulated physical pain is common in BPD and important in shaping health outcomes including elevated BPD symptoms, chronic pain conditions, and risk for problematic substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Nance
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Khrystyna Stetsiv
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Ian A McNamara
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Ryan W Carpenter
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, St. Louis, St. Louis, USA
| | - Johanna Hepp
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
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Reynolds CJ, Tragesser SL. Borderline personality features are associated with worse perceptions of (but not compliance with) chronic pain treatment. PSYCHOL HEALTH MED 2024; 29:163-173. [PMID: 37822059 DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2023.2268889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Treating chronic illness requires ongoing patient-provider cooperation, but individual differences in patients' negative perceptions of care can undermine this cooperation. Research suggests people high on borderline personality disorder (BPD) features may react negatively to and comply less with mental health and medical treatment. This might be particularly problematic in chronic pain treatment, where BPD features are over-represented and the dysregulation typifying BPD likely undermines consistent care. In a sample of 147 chronic pain patients, we investigated whether higher levels of BPD features - both in general and by specific facets - predicted worse perceptions of treatment and lower patient-reported compliance with treatment recommendations. Participants higher (vs. lower) on borderline features viewed treatment more negatively but did not report complying less with recommendations. We found evidence that this may reflect the unstable relationships facet of BPD. Our results indicate that, consistent with other treatment settings, BPD features may undermine care for chronic pain. Furthermore, our results highlight the importance of collaborative provider-patient relationships and patient agreement with the treatment of chronic pain, particularly among individuals higher on BPD features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb J Reynolds
- Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Sarah L Tragesser
- Department of Psychology, Washington State University Tri-Cities, Richland, WA, USA
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Scheunemann J, Jelinek L, Biedermann SV, Lipp M, Yassari AH, Kühn S, Gallinat J, Moritz S. Can you trust this source? Advice taking in borderline personality disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2023:10.1007/s00406-022-01539-w. [PMID: 36629942 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-022-01539-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Research suggests that patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) share a range of cognitive biases with patients with psychosis. As the disorder often manifests in dysfunctional social interactions, we assumed associated reasoning styles would be exaggerated in a social setting. For the present study, we applied the Judge-Advisor System by asking participants to provide initial estimates of a person's age and presumed hostility based on a portrait photo. Afterwards, we presented additional cues/advice in the form of responses by anonymous previous respondents. Participants could revise their estimate, seek additional advice, or make a decision. Contrary to our preregistered hypothesis, patients with BPD (n = 38) performed similarly to healthy controls (n = 30). Patients sought the same number of pieces of advice, were equally confident, and used advice in similar ways to revise their estimates. Thus, patients with BPD did trust advice. However, patients gave higher hostility ratings to the portrayed persons. In conclusion, patients with BPD showed no cognitive biases in seeking, evaluating, and integrating socially provided information. While the study implies emotional rather than cognitive biases in the disorder, cognitive biases may still prove to be useful treatment targets in order to encourage delaying and reflecting on extreme emotional responses in social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Scheunemann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lena Jelinek
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah V Biedermann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Lipp
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Amir H Yassari
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simone Kühn
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Lise Meitner Group for Environmental Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gallinat
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Steffen Moritz
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Loneliness is a common experience in patients with personality disorders (PDs) that are characterized by impairment in self (identity, self-direction) and interpersonal functioning (empathy, intimacy). Here, we review studies assessing the association of loneliness with PD or PD traits including DSM-5's Alternative Model of PD (AMPD). RECENT FINDINGS The number of loneliness studies varied greatly among different PDs with most studies conducted in borderline PD. Across PDs, loneliness was associated with the severity of psychopathological symptoms and with several AMPD trait domains. Consequently, loneliness may contribute to PD severity and further impair personality functioning. Loneliness and PD share intra- and interpersonal factors (i.e., increased rejection sensitivity, information processing biases, social withdrawal) and common origins in childhood maltreatment that may explain their close association. Future research needs to investigate mechanisms on how loneliness and core characteristics of PD mutually reinforce each other in order to therapeutically address loneliness in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias A. Reinhard
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Tabea Nenov-Matt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Frank Padberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital Munich, Nussbaumstr. 7, 80336 Munich, Germany
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Hepp J, Niedtfeld I. Prosociality in personality disorders: Status quo and research agenda. Curr Opin Psychol 2021; 44:208-214. [PMID: 34715541 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Personality disorders (PDs) are characterized by interpersonal dysfunction and deficits in prosociality are theorized to contribute to this. We review studies linking categorical PDs to prosocial and antagonistic traits and highlight studies that assessed prosocial behavior in PDs via economic games. We structure our review based on the recently proposed affordance framework of prosocial behavior, summarizing the evidence for exploitation, reciprocity, temporal conflict, and dependence under uncertainty as situational affordances that allow the expression of personality in prosocial behavior. We conclude that some of the inconsistencies in the literature may be due to studies focusing on different situational affordances and the reliance on categorical PDs. We suggest a research agenda and a set of testable hypotheses based on maladaptive personality traits included in the newly implemented dimensional PD diagnoses in ICD-11 and DSM-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Hepp
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany
| | - Inga Niedtfeld
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Germany.
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Hepp J, Kieslich PJ, Wycoff AM, Bertsch K, Schmahl C, Niedtfeld I. Mouse-tracking reveals cognitive conflict during negative impression formation in women with Borderline Personality Disorder or Social Anxiety Disorder. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247955. [PMID: 33662030 PMCID: PMC7932102 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) suffer from substantial interpersonal dysfunction and have difficulties establishing social bonds. A tendency to form negative first impressions of others could contribute to this by way of reducing approach behavior. We tested whether women with BPD or SAD would show negative impression formation compared to healthy women (HCs). We employed the Thin Slices paradigm and showed videos of 52 authentic target participants to 32 women with BPD, 29 women with SAD, and 37 HCs. We asked participants to evaluate whether different positive or negative adjectives described targets and expected BPD raters to provide the most negative ratings, followed by SAD and HC. BPD and SAD raters both agreed with negative adjectives more often than HCs (e.g., ‘Yes, the person is greedy’), and BPD raters rejected positive adjectives more often (e.g., ‘No, the person is not humble.’). However, BPD and SAD raters did not differ significantly from each other. Additionally, we used the novel process tracing method mouse-tracking to assess the cognitive conflict (via trajectory deviations) raters experienced during decision-making. We hypothesized that HCs would experience more conflict when making unfavorable (versus favorable) evaluations and that this pattern would flip in BPD and SAD. We quantified cognitive conflict via maximum absolute deviations (MADs) of the mouse-trajectories. As hypothesized, HCs showed more conflict when rejecting versus agreeing with positive adjectives. The pattern did not flip in BPD and SAD but was substantially reduced, such that BPD and SAD showed similar levels of conflict when rejecting and agreeing with positive adjectives. Contrary to the hypothesis for BPD and SAD, all three groups experienced substantial conflict when agreeing with negative adjectives. We discuss therapeutic implications of the combined choice and mouse-tracking results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Hepp
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Pascal J Kieslich
- Department of Psychology & Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES), School of Social Sciences, University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Andrea M Wycoff
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States of America
| | - Katja Bertsch
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Schmahl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inga Niedtfeld
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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